Nice.

Hi,

Have you detailed what the changes are between G1 and G2? In what way has the design evolved? Materials? Floorspace? Layout? Services design change? Aesthetics?

Very keen to know in which direction the design is evolving.

regards
Rob

There are many differences. From the design to the way the roofing system is put together. The vaulted entrance is newer, as an example.

Each Earthship that we build get better. We look at every little detail and seek to improve each time. That being said, Earthships built 20 years ago are still much better than ANY conventional home built today.

Yeah, it would be nice to see a more details/specified list of at least a couple of changes, the entrance isn't quite binded to just that model but more of a design-for-just-that-house-thing, right? And by that I wonder if the "new" entrance has any purpose to the G2-model rather than design.

I love to see a development, but it would be nice to know why and what's being changed, since I'm buying books, spend quite alot of time on the site and try to be engaged in all these projects it would be nice to see that one doesn't have to buy a G2 book as well, but be able to follow stuff on the site.

One thing could be to have like a supporter account where one could pay a fee to be able to see more information without being obliged to buy more and more books (eco friendly in one way).

The cooling tubes running through the berm to add ventilation in the house are now 10 feet longer. It further helps with the ventilation and conforms better to the slope of the northside berm. Since it conforms to the slope of the berm better, fewer steps are needed to prevent dirt from entering the cooling tubes from the outside. Don't know how eloquent that sounds, but that's one example of change between the G1 and G2 that I know of.

Cool to know about the refinement of the cooling tube design. Please let us know about any other developments. I think this 'evolution' information is important to help people understand the benefits of a 30+yr mature design, rather than a 'have-a-go-yourself' expensive learning exercise.

Has anyone ever expanded an existing Earthship? One of the things I am grappling with in working out my requirements is whether it would be possible to build a 2 or 3 bedroom earthship intially and then to expand it later as time and money allows. One thought has been to keep the backwall a straight plane (no rounded corners connecting the side walls), so it can be exposed and added to later on with a new side wall added (existing side wall becomes an internal wall). Does that make sense? I have a diagram I could post if it helps.

Also has anyone experiemented with improved winter performance through black coloured roofs etc? Also what about the use of old railway iron laid front to back in the floor to conduct heat further into the buildings?

Anyone any thoughts on these ideas?

Rob

Im no expert!!!!
Also has anyone experiemented with improved winter performance through black coloured roofs etc?

If you have no snow in the winter I guess it would get warmer. If you have any or a lot of snow, the snow itself will have a isolating effect. Maybe good if your winter is really cold.

I too is really intrested in the aspects of coldclimate earthships. Is there any discussion thread or should we start one?

Rob, I asked the same question during a build. For a "Staged" expansion in the global model you would leave the tires in one wing wall exposed. When you get ready to add on simply tie into the wing wall, create another East or West wall by swinging back towards the back wall, and create another ship inline with your existing ship. The area of the wing wall connecting the two buildings would become a front entrance.

We plan to do this when building ours...

mooy: I saw you are in the swedish group. we're discussing cold climate posibilities there. its called "what we need to think of while building in this c£ld climate". you can join that discussion and together we'll figure at least some of the things out.

Since there are so many changes that make things better, why not explain them in a good article or something like that.
We can use this information well, since the books contain a lot of out-dated material that might work well in a desert but not in a moisty cold climate.
Some who build them this way in a colder climate got stuck with bad working earthships (there is one example in Sweden).
I know for sure Michael learned from his European trips but can't find any info on it in any of the books I've got (git about all of them). So where are the updates, teh information gathered sinve writing the Volumes. People are in need of this.

Hi, was wondering if living or even being in one of these things would be bad for your health? Is there any toxins from the materials that are used such as the old tires? It may be good for the earth, but is it bad for our health to live in?

Hey

I've heard that you are trying to make Global model way more cheaper to build. Is that what you are tying to achieve with G2 aswell?